Highlights from the Marriott Center Annex Ground Breaking
PROVO, Utah – Brigham Young University today broke ground on the previously announced Marriott Center Annex, which will house a practice facility and associated services for its men’s and women’s basketball programs.
The new 38,000 square-foot building will connect to the east end of the Marriott Center, replacing the road that currently runs between the arena and the BYU Broadcasting Building. The Annex will feature a replica of the Marriott Center floor with additional shooting areas on both ends of the court. In addition, the facility will include a strength and conditioning center; a training room with hydrotherapy; office suites; meeting rooms; team lounge and study areas; and a hall of honor showcasing the history and tradition of BYU basketball.
“This is an exciting day for BYU basketball. Our men’s and women’s teams have been very successful, and this new facility will enhance both programs,” said BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe. “We would like to express our appreciation to the BYU administration, the board of trustees and the many donors who have made this project a reality, particularly Ruth and Rex Maughan who made a generous lead gift.”
Joining athletic department staff, coaches and athletes at the groundbreaking ceremony was BYU President Kevin J Worthen and many private donors whose generous donations funded the construction of the facility.
Also in attendance were representatives of Wadman Corporation from Ogden, Utah, who was recently selected as the contractor for the project. Construction on the Marriott Center Annex will begin immediately with the project completion expected for fall of 2016.
“I am very appreciative to the BYU administration, the athletic administration and those who have worked tirelessly to make the new practice facility a reality,” said BYU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dave Rose. “I also want to thank the many donors who have been so kind and generous—their support has been invaluable. This facility is a major commitment to our basketball program. It will enhance the student-athlete experience, the development of our players and recruiting.”
In 10 full seasons under Rose, BYU basketball has won at least 20 games and qualified for the postseason each year, including eight NCAA tournament appearances and a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2011. His teams have also captured four conference championships. In addition to team success, Rose’s players have collected 15 first-team all-conference citations, four conference player of the year awards and in 2011, Jimmer Fredette was named the consensus National Player of the Year.
“I’m grateful to the BYU administration and the many donors who have worked together to make this practice facility a reality,” said BYU Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jeff Judkins. “It provides world-class resources to further develop our student-athletes and better prepare them to achieve their goals—both athletically and academically.”
In 14 full seasons under Judkins, BYU women’s basketball has won at least 20 games nine times and qualified for postseason play 11 times, including seven NCAA tournament appearances and two trips to the Sweet 16. His teams have also captured two conference championships and three conference tournament titles. In addition to team success, Judkins’s players have collected 12 first-team all-conference citations and five conference player of the year awards. On Jan. 12, 2012, Judkins won his 220th game to become the winningest coach in BYU women’s basketball history.
The Marriott Center has been home to BYU basketball since it opened on Dec. 3, 1971. Named in honor of benefactor J. Willard Marriott, founder of the Marriott Corporation, the building covers three acres, is 10 stories high and encloses eight million cubic feet.
Quotes
BYU President Kevin J Worthen
“We have a commitment to excellence on the one hand that we require from the students, student-athletes, coaches and faculty, it is also true that we want the preparation to be excellent and that requires we provide the facilities.”
“When Tyler Haws came back from his mission, I first started to see the vision. Tyler doesn’t understand office hours because he was trying to find any place to practice and there was literally times when there was no place on campus where he could practice. At that point, I got a lot more interested in this project because he showed a commitment to excellence and we had a responsibility to make sure his preparation was excellent, so he could go on and compete with the best in his field.”
“This is not just about basketball. Basketball is really important, but (the men's) and the women’s team are some of the most visible representatives of what we’re trying to do at this university. It includes wins and losses. It is being excellent in everything you do, that’s in all areas of your life. There comes a responsibility for the players to represent us on and off the court the way we should be represented at an institution that believes in the balance of the total person.”
BYU men's basketball head coach Dave Rose
“We’ve got a great basketball program on the national scale and we’ve had a lot of players put through a difficult time on campus where they haven’t been able to work out. I really appreciate those former guys and these current guys who will have a chance to be a part of this facility. I thank them for their dedication, hard work and commitment.”
Meaning of this facility:
“The most important thing is there’s no longer questions about when it’s going to be built. Every recruit that has come through the past couple years have had that question. The fact that these players will know they have a place dedicated to their improvement will be really important in the process of recruiting players, not just for the next couple years, but for a long time. This is something that has become really important to the progression of individual players and we’re glad we’ve got one here on our camps.”
Shows commitment of administration:
“The commitment has been 100 percent since the day I got here. I’ve never seen any indication that the university and athletic administration isn’t totally committed to the athletic department and our basketball program. Outwardly, it shows that to others.”
“This whole project over the summer to renovate the Marriott Center (has made) the Marriott Center as nice a facility as there is in the country, professional, amateur or collegiate and it shows quite a commitment from everybody here.”
Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe
“This is a day of gratitude for me. It has been about individual passion. I’m grateful to this university that we have incredible facilities. The spirit of this campus is second to none. I’m so grateful for the Board of Trustees that so generously allow us to have resources to make this the best university in the country. Sometimes people in athletics measure that in facilities, I’m glad that our trustees don’t. They measure it in the spirit of the people here on campus, our students, our student-athletes, faculty, coaches and administration.”
Senior Associate AD Brian Santiago
Inspiration:
“We traveled around the western US and looked at between 15-20 facilities and you like to take inspiration from all of them because there’s some great things in each of them. We wanted our unique BYU touch on ours and ours to be different and to serve our needs and not try to build what other people have built.”
“The look and feel of it is a BYU (look) and feel. We weren’t trying to match anybody’s look and feel and this is a BYU facility that ties into what we do. What we did see were some unique state-of-the-art things and the needs of today’s student-athletes that we incorporated in.”
Location of the annex:
“This was the place for it. We wanted it connected to the Marriott Center. It needed to be connected to the Marriott Center because there’s so much transition that will happen.”